As the Los Angeles Dodgers gear up for their quest to defend their 2024 World Series title, they are once again viewed as strong contenders following a busy offseason. The team bolstered its roster by acquiring standout Japanese talent Roki Sasaki, along with lefty Blake Snell, relievers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, infielder Hyeseong Kim, and outfielder Michael Conforto. This substantial investment has pushed the team’s payroll to a record-breaking $379 million, making it the highest in baseball history.
Despite the impressive additions, the global superstar of the Dodgers remains Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani, fresh off his third MVP award and now the first National League recipient, made history as Major League Baseball’s inaugural 50-50 player. Even more remarkably, Ohtani is set to contribute even more to the Dodgers in 2025, as he did not pitch last season due to elbow surgery but is expected to return to the mound this year.
During a recent bullpen session at the Dodgers’ spring training complex in Glendale, Arizona, Ohtani showcased his pitching prowess. Throwing a mix of two-seam and four-seam fastballs, he clocked in at an impressive 92 to 94 mph on the radar gun while observers, including reporters and fans, looked on with anticipation.
Reflecting on Ohtani’s performance, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commended the pitcher’s early velocity and focus on refining his pitches. Roberts noted Ohtani’s keen understanding of his pitching arsenal and praised his ability to align his insights with analytical data.
Roberts projected that Ohtani could be ready to face hitters by the conclusion of spring training before the team embarks on a trip to Tokyo for a two-game series against the Chicago Cubs on March 18-19. However, Ohtani is unlikely to feature in any Cactus League matchups.
Anticipated to return to the pitching rotation by May, Ohtani is poised to make his first major league appearance on the mound since August 23, 2023. Until Ohtani’s anticipated return, Roberts envisions the team utilizing a five-man rotation comprising Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Sasaki, with additional competition for the fifth spot among pitchers such as Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Bobby Miller.
Ohtani’s standout season as a pitcher in the MLB came in 2022, where he made 28 starts, boasting a 15-9 record, a 2.33 ERA, and 219 strikeouts in 166 innings. Over his career, Ohtani has maintained an impressive ERA of 3.01 and a strikeout rate of 11.4 per nine innings across 86 starts.
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